Threaded locking device



`)une 8, 1943.

R. w. LUCE 2,321,497

THREADED LOCKING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 4. 1939 //4 \Y/Al OlliIl\'ff WWII" ,y/ENTER. *BY r @wg W Patented June 8, 1943 Richard W. Luce,Southport, Conn.

roriginal application August 4, 1939, serial No.

288,266, now Patent No.

ber 9, 1941. Divided 3 Claims.

' This application constitutes a division of my rcri-pending applicationSerial No. 288,266, filed August 4,' 1939, for Threaded locking device.

The invention herein disclosed relates to a threaded locking device ofthe kind in which a resilient, brous washer is used to engage thethreads of a bolt entered therein in frictional engagement and exert anaxial force between the thread of the threaded locking device and thethread of a bolt or screw entered therein.

Since one of the functions of such threaded locking devices is to remainsecure under the action of forces resulting from vibration, it isimportant that the weight of the locking-device be as small as possibleand that the weight be distributed such that the center of the as closeas possible to the axis of rotation. The moment of inertia of such adevice is proportional to the mass of the device and the radius ofgyration; In consequence, any reduction in the mass of the device andany distribution of the mass to bring the center of the mass closer tothe axis of rotation, the axis of the threaded locking device, lessensthe force tending to rotate the locking device relative to the screw. Areduction in the weight of such devices is also important where suchdevices are used in airplane Aconstruction, as any reduction in theweight .ofthe constructional elements of an airplane increases theload-carrying capacity accordingly.

By the invention herein disclosed, there is provided a threaded lockingdevice of the kind mentioned which has a relatively thin wall section.The threaded locking device of this invention is preferably stamped' anddrawn from sheet metal and has a relatively thin, substantially uniformwall thickness throughout. The weight of the locking device and itsmoment of linertia are-thus materially reduced without affecting itsemcacy as alocking device or its holding power.

Such a threaded locking device, constituting an example of one specificembodiment of the invention, is disclosed in the accompanying drawingand described in detail below.

The drawing includes:

Fig. 1 which is a longitudinal sec-tion of a threaded locking device;andA Fig. 2 which is a plan of the same.

The particular, specic, threaded locking device illustrated in thedrawing by way of example is of the type that is commonly referred to asan anchor nut. This nut is stamped and drawn from sheet metal andincludes a tubular body portion i having the load-carrying threads 2therein. At one end of the body portion there is 2,265,661, datedDecemand this 8, 1941, Serial No. $92,429J

application May provided a flange 3,

mass be shaped as shown and extending at right kangles to the axis ofthe nut. The surface t of this flange constitutes the face or' the nut.The ilange is pierced to providel openings 5 and 6 through which rivetsmay extend to secure the nut to some part of a structure Vwith the faceof the nut against the structure to which the nut issecured.

,At -the other end of the body portion, the diameter of the blank isenlarged to form a tubular portion l of enlarged diameter and to form ashoulder 8. In this portion of enlarged diameter there is placed anon-metallic washer 9, preferably a resilient, iibrous washer. The brouswasher rests on the shoulder 8 and the end section of the portion 1 isspun over to clamp the washer betweenthe edge I0 thereof and the seat orshoulder 8.

The opening Il through the fibrous washer 9 is slightly less in diameterthan the thread diameter of the bodyprtion I. As a bolt is entered inthe nut, it passes through the body portion and then engages the washer'I'his washer is not threaded and the bolt must emboss its thread in thewasher. In entering the washer it causes the washer to bend axially, theaction being a bending action in the nature of a cantilever.' Thisbending action exerts a resilient force between the nut and the boltentered therein. and causes the surface of the thread of the bodyportion I of the nut to engage the surface of the thread of the bolt infrictional engagement. The frictional engagement between the threads soe'ected and the clamping action effected by the er are adequate tomaintain the nut on the bolt and prevent relative movement of the nutwith respect to the bolt due to forces resulting from vibration.

From the foregoing description of the embodimei't of the inventionillustrated in the drawing, it will be seen that by this inventionthereis provided a threaded locking device of the kind described that islight in weight and that has a wthe drawing and described in detailrelatively thin and uniform wall section. While a nut; of the typecommonly termed an anchor nut, is disclosed any form of nut, such as thehexagonal nut of the aforesaid co-pending application may be madeembodying the invention.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled inthe art in the details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated inabove within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed inthe appended claims.

fibrous wash-y I claim:

1. A threaded locking device of the kind having a non-metallic washerwith a hole therethrough of a diameter less than the root diameter ofthe thread, the device being characterised by the fact that it is ofsheet metal of relatively thin and substantially uniform wall sectionand includes a threaded tubular portion, means united at one end of thethreaded' tubular portion for retaining the non-metallic washer axiallyalined with the threaded tubular portion and restrained against rotationwith respect thereto, and a nange portion united at the opposite end oi'the threaded tubular portion forming a face-for the threaded lockingdevice extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the threadedtubular portion.

2. .A threaded locking device of the kind having a non-metallic washerwith a hole therethrough of a diameter less than the root diameter ofthe thread, the device being characterised by the' fact that it is ofsheet metal oi relatively thin and substantially uniform wall sectionand includes a threaded tubular portion, another tubular portion at oneend of the threaded tubular portion for receiving the non-metallicwasher,

said latter tubular portion retaining the nonmetallic washer axiallyalined with the threaded tubular portion and restrained against rotationwith respect thereto, and a flange portion at the opposite end oi' thethreaded tubular portion forming a face for the threaded locking deviceextending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the threadedtubular portion.

3. A threaded locking device of the kind having a non-metallic washerwith a hole therethrough of a diameter less than the root diameter ofthe thread, the device being characterised by the fact that it is ofsheet metal of relatively thin and substantially uniform wall sectionand includes a threaded tubular portion, another tubular portion ofgreater length than the thickness of the non-metallic washer and inwhich the washer is Ireceived, the end of said tubular portion beingrolled over on the washer to retain the washer and restrain the washeragainst rotation with respect thereto, and a ilange portion at-theopposite end of the threaded tubular portion forming a face for thethreaded locking device extending 'substantially perpendicular to theaxis of the threaded tubular portion.

RICHARD W. LUCE.

